How to Start a Non-Profit Business in Ocala Florida
Starting a non-profit business in Ocala, Florida requires that you first form and incorporate a non-profit organization. Non-profit organizations are governed by Florida state law and require a filing with the Secretary of State's Division of Corporations. Once your non-profit business is formed, you can take advantage of the City of Ocala's Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability to help you meet your funding and business needs.
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Instructions
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Choose a business name and check to see if it is available for use. Under Florida law, all incorporated businesses must have original and unique names. Check your proposed name against the business name database, administered by the Florida Secretary of State. If there is a name that matches or is similar to yours, you will have to choose another name.
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Select initial directors for your business. Under Florida law, a nonprofit business must have at least three directors at formation. Moreover, each director must be at least 18 years of age.
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Choose a registered agent. A registered agent's main duty is to provide a dedicated individual to facilitate the receipt of legal service and official government correspondence. In Florida, a registered agent may be anyone over the age of 18 that resides within the state.
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Draft your business' articles of incorporation. The Florida state provides blank articles that you can use or in the alternative you may draft your own. The articles must include, the name and address of your business, the name and signatures of your directors, the name, address and signature of your registered agent and the name and signature of your incorporator (the person who will file the articles).
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File you articles of incorporation and the $70 application fee with the Florida Division of Corporations. Applications may be filed by mail or in person to the following addresses respectively.
Department of State
Division of Corporations
P.O. Box 6327
Tallahassee, FL 32314
Department of State
Division of Corporations
Clifton Building
2661 Executive Center Circle
Tallahassee, FL 32301
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Draft your business by-laws. By-laws are your business' internal rules on how the business will be managed and what the relationship is between owners, officers or managers. Unlike the articles of incorporation, there are no legal requirements on what your by-laws should include. Furthermore, you need not file a copy with the state although you must keep a copy at the business' principle office.
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Hold an organizational meeting and create a records book. As soon as possible after formation hold an organizational meeting to discuss and decide issues important to the maintenance of your business such as developing a fundraising plan, electing permanent directors, adopting your drafted by-laws and creating a records book to document your incorporation process and other financial records required by Florida law.
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Obtain all applicable fundraising, tax and employee certifications. Since you will be running a non-profit business, you will need to file for federal tax exemption status from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Florida Department of Revenue and any local Ocala tax you may be subject to. Moreover, If you will hire any employees you will need to apply for an Employee Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS.
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